Round 5 Slow Swiss

Truth be told, I was dreading this game. My confidence is REALLY lacking. I feel like I can't do anything. So, what is the best thing to do? Try to do my homework and prepare. So, I looked at my opponent's old games. I studied them. Hmmm... I'm black this game so I determine the opening. Kind of anyway. And it appears that when my opponent is white, he often plays e4 and it goes into the Ruy Lopez. Sometimes a french. Fine. I kind of like them both. I'm more familiar with the Ruy Lopez though. So let me practice that.

so I did a practice game - disaster. But that's okay - Hopefully, I'll make the mistakes in the practice game and not in the real game.

Real game comes around.

Move 3 - he is NOT doing the Ruy Lopez. In fact, he's doing something I'm not used to.

PANIC ATTACK TIME.

AGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!

"What's wrong?" my opponent asked.

"This isn't the Ruy Lopez!" I wrote. "I did my homework! You usually play the Ruy Lopez when you're white and that's what I was expecting. Now I'm STUCK!"

I was told this was the Scotch.

(that is now turning into a 4-letter word in my vocabulary.. I'm HATING that opening with a passion)

"It's an aggressive opening," my opponent remarked.

You don't need aggressive against Cris Angel!! For cripe's sakes! Just show up and you'll win!

Yes, yes... I know. Don't go into it with a losing attitude. But as I said, I'm VERY discouraged of late and I'd be lying if I said I felt otherwise. Once this swiss event is over, I'm getting back to work on basics. I need some confidence building exercises and we will work on that, tactics and the psychological aspect of my game.

For now though.

Goals:

1. Focus as much as possible. Feel like I'm doing my best given my skill level. (((((((BUZZZZZZZZZ)))))) I don't think so.

2. Do NOT give the opponent an easy win. Make him work for it. ((((((((((BUZZZZZZ)))))))))))) I don't think so.

3. Survive 15 moves. Seriously. That was a goal I put in my Team group site. (((((((((((((((((BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ)))))))) Three for three. STrike out.

Sigh.

Another disaster.

I'm told I had a few nice moves though. AND, I need to learn what I can do against this monstrosity of an opening, so I'm annotating, even if my rear end is still burning from the beating.